KELSO On Sunday, June 26, the Lower Columbia (L.C.) 10-year-old baseball team clinched first place in the annual Kelso Legends Baseball Tournament.  The 12 player team completed pool play early Saturday evening, finishing with a 3-0 record, seeding them #1 against 13 other teams entering the single-elimination bracket play of the tournament.    

Little did fans know, the drama was just beginning to mount as Lower Columbia entered the championship game against Nisqually Basin.  Once again, with their backs against the wall, L.C. found themselves down 3-2, with two outs against them and no one on base, facing their final out.  At the top of the batting order, Reed delivered again with a single, followed by another single by Wallace.  A passed ball to Matthews advanced the base runners to second and third base.  On the next pitch, Matthews slammed a single to left-center field, scoring Reed and Wallace to win the championship game and take home first Place hardware. 

Lower Columbia finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, of which all games required a come-from-behind effort. Their success was defined by solid, consistent pitching from starting pitchers Cole Dorman and Gage McFadden, outstanding outfield effort, routine infield play, timely hitting, and an unwillingness to never give up.